Synchronizing system.



No. 796,867. PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905. P. RIBBE.

SYNGHRONIZING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 16, 1904. l

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0. 796,867. y PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905. P. RIBBE.

SYNCHRNIZING SYSTEM.

APPLIATION FILED DEO.16; 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHBBT 2.

M; mlllmlr- (Lm/MM PAUL RIIBE,- OF HALENSEE, NEAR BERLIN GERMANY.

SYNCHFIONIZING SYSTEM.

Specification of' Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application iled December 16, 1904.V Serial No. 237,184.

To .f1/ZZ 11171/0711/ it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PAUL RIBBE, a citizen of the Empire of Germany, residing at Halensee, near Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, have invented a new and useful Synchronizing System, of which the following' is a specification.

In automatic telegraphs-such as in telautographs, automatic viewing-telegraphs, automatic printing-telegraphs,telephotographs, or the likehit is absolutely necessary that the respective operating parts of the two mechanisms at both stations--such as disks, endless bands, screens, or the likebe moved entirely synchronously. In case two separate sources of power, such as clockworks or the like, are employed for driving the operating parts or the mechanisms at both stations it is most difiicult to obtain a complete and invariable synchronisin of the two mechanisms, since it is almost impossible to produce perfectly synchronously working clockworks or other sources of power. For synchronizing two such clockworks hitherto known electrical systems have been employed, it is true; but the electromagnets employed in such systems for controlling thc operating rotatory parts of the two clockworks or the like were all connected with electrical contacts which are adapted for governing the simultaneous motion of the rotatory parts indirectly or with the aid of electromagneticy brakes. These electrical contacts are, however; very objectionable for the reason of their unreliability and variability, so that they occasion undesirable disturbances in the system and impair the synchronism of the two clockworks or the like.

My invention relates to improvements in such synchronizing systems whereby the use of electrical contacts is dispensed with, and the said defects, more particularly any increase of the difference in the motion of the two clockworks or the like in course of the time, are avoided and a complete and invariable synchronism is insured.

The objects of my improvement are, first, to provide at each station the rotatory operating-disk of the clockwork with one or several radial slits and also with a corresponding' number of armatures on the periphery; second, to dispose an electromagnet for attracting when energized either of these armatures, which electromagnet is connected' with the line of transmission and may be connected at will either with the ground or with a local circuit; third, to dispose at each station on the one side of the rotatory operating-disk a stationary screen with a slit, which latter is adapted to register with the one or several radial slits of the disk periodically and con-y secutively; fourth, to provide a selenium-cell behind the slit of the screen and inserted in the local circuit, and, fifth, to provide at each station a source of light on the other side of the rotatory operating-disk in the line of the slit of the screen. I attain these objects by the system illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section through a clockwork at either station on the broken line A B in Fig. 2, the operating-disk being wholly shown in section. Fig. 2 is on the upper part a front view of the same after the operating-disk and theselenium-cell have been removed and on the lower part a vertical section through the line E F in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the line C D in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is afront view of the whole clockwork with the exception of the chain and weights. Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically a synchronizing system, the two clockworks at both stations being omitted and only their operating-disks with screens, selenium-cells, and sources of light being shown. iFig. 6 represents a momentary position of the rotatory operating-disk at the receiving-station when lagging behind that at the sending-station, and Fig. 7 represents a similar position of this disk when running in advance of that at the sending-station.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In Figs. 1 to 4 I have shown a clockwork which may be employed at each station, although I do not limit myself to the construction shown. The frame of this clockwork comprises a high front plate l and a less high rear plate 2, four stays 3, connecting these two plates together, and two brackets 4 and 5. This frame is supported by a suitable table 6 or the like, which is provided with an aperture 7 Vfor the driving-wheel 8 and the two parts of a weighted chain 26. The drivingwheel 8 is fastened on a shaft 9, which is mounted in the two plates l and 2 to turn. Three further shafts 11, 14, and 17 are mounted in the same two plates 1 and 2 to turn and also a fly-shaft 21 in the two brackets 4 and 5. Loose on thc shaft 9 between the driving-wheel 8 and a loose collar 22 with set-screw is a chain-wheel 23, which is made in one piece with a ratchet-wheel 24. A springpressed pawl is arranged on the drivingw heel 8 for engaging in the teeth of the ratchetwheel 24. The chain 26 is put over the chainwheel 23 and carries at the one end a drivingweight 27 and at the other end a tightening small weight 28. The driving-wheel 8 meshes with a pinion 10, fast on the shaft 11, and the gear-wheel 12 on the latter meshes with another 1pinion 1B on theV shaft 14. Another gear-wheel 15 on this shaft 14 meshes with a pinion 16, which is fastened with a wormwheel 18 on the shaft 17. The .worm-wheel 18 engages in a worm 19 ot' a steep pitch on the sha'lt 21, which latter carries a Vtly 20. Fastened on the shat't 17 is an operating-disk O, which is shown as provided with four radial slits 29 29 at right angles to each other, and with four armatures 30 30 on its periphery. The operating-disk O may be of brass or any other material. Its 'lour slits 2S) 2.() are preferably made narrow on the front and wide on the rear. 1n other words, they diverg'e inwardly, as is clearly shown at Fig. 3. The four armatures 30 30 are shown as engaging in convenient cuts of the operating-disk O (see Fig. 4) and overlapping' the latter on both sides; but the construction of these armatures is quite immaterial. At the top ot' the front plate 1. above the path ot' the several armatures 30 30, the long polepiece 3l ot' an electromagnet 32 is fastened. The lower face of this pole-piece 31 is shown as slightly curved downward in its middle, so that it is nearest any ol the armatures 30 30 when the latter is placed in the vertical central cross plane ot' the electromagnet32, as is shown at Fig. 4. On turning the operating-disk O a little in either direction the distance between the respective armature 30 and the lower tace of the pole-piece 31 will increase, as Ais clearly shown at Figs. 6 and 7. On the Vtrent plate 1 is fastened with screws 33 a bridge S, which passes over the front of the oij eratingdisk O and serves in its middle as a screen, it being provided with a slit 34, (see Figs. 1 to 3,) which is narrow on the rear and wide on the front. ln other words, it diverges to the liront. This slit 34 of the screen S is adapted to periodically register with any ot' the four slits 29 29 ot' the operating-disk O. A selenium-cell 35 of any known construction is fastened with screws 36 36 on the front of the screen S opposite to the slit 34 ot' thelatter. Preferably the frame of the selenium-cell is provided with a rim in close contact with the screen S, and the front of the selenium-cell is closed by a cover 37, so as to preserve the sensitiveness ot' the selenium for a longer time. Two binding-posts 38 S8 are provided for connecting the selenium-cell with two wires, as shown at Figs. 1 and 4. On the rear of the front plate 1 a conical camera 3) is fastened in any known manner, whose tapering end projects through an opening 40 ot' the t'ront plate l and reaches to near the operating-disk O. A convenient source of light, in this case an incandescent lamp 41, is provided in the rear part of the camera 39, and behind this lamp 41 a curved reliector 42 is secured in the camera 39. The incandescent lamp 41 is to be connected with any source ot electricity. The reflector 42 is arranged for so reflecting the rays ol light that in the horizontal plane these rays converge toward the narrow rear end ot' the slit 34 in the screen S, where they cut each other, after which they diverge and can strike the active face of the selenium-cell 35, as is clearly shown by the dotted lines at Fig. 3. ln the vertical plane, however, thel rays ot' light are preferably reflected in parallel lines, as is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. Thereby the highest possible effect of the incandescent lamp 41 upon the selenium--cell is insured.

The rear end ol the shaft 17 ot' the operating-disk O shown in Fig. 1 as broken otl, since its construction may be varied and forms no part of this invention. This rear end ot the shaft 17 may carry the respective operating part ol an automatic telegraphic apparatus ot' any known construction, or it may be connected by a coupling or universal joint with the said apparatus. This operating part may be a disk similar to O or a drum over which an endless band passes, or the like.

As already mentioned above, two equal clockwmks otl the class described are disposed at both stations and put into simultaneous operation. The manner in which the two clockworks are according to my invention made to work synchronously will be presently described. ,lu the (.liagram in Fig. 5 the two stations are assumed to be on the left and on the right; but `for the sake of clearness only the operating-disks, the incandescent lamps with reflectors, the screens with selen lum-cells, and the electromagnets ol the two clockworks are shown, those parts on the right station being marked with the same characters ot reference as on the left, only vwith the addition ot' the index 1. The two electromagnets 32 and 32' are inserted in the line of transmission L, which connects both stations. At the left station a local circuit comprising a battery 4G, two contact-pieces 45 and 49, two lines 47 and 4S, and the selenium-cell is disposed and connected with the ground by a line 50. A similar circuit is disposed at the right station and comprises a battery 4(5', two contact-pieces and 49', two lines 47' and 48. and the selenium-cell and is connected with the ground by a line By means of a switch 44 the wire 43, coming from the electromagnet 32 at the left station, may bc connected at will either with the local circuit (by placing the switch 44 over the contactpiece 45) or with the ground by means of the lines 48 and 50. ln a similar manner the wire 43, coming from the electromagnet 32' at the right station, maybe connected at will either with the local circuit or with the ground.

The electrical system is operated as follows: In case the two clockworks at both stations have run off the driving-weight 27, Fig. 2, of each clockwork is raised by pulling the tightening-weight 28 downward, so that the springpressed pawl 25 rides over the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 24. Then the weight 27 will put the clockwork into motion, so that the operating-disk O is rotated, while its speed is regulated by the iy 20. The operating-disk O will then by its shaft 17 actuate the respective automatic telegraphic apparatus. (Not shown.) Vhen assuming the station on the left in Fig. 5 to be the sending-station from which the electrical impulses or disturbances are to be transmitted in any known manner by the line L to the receiving-station for causing the production of a telegram, message, photograph, image or the like, as the case may be, then the switch 44 is placed over the contact-piece 45, so as to connect the electromagnet 32, on the one hand, with the line ot' transmission L and` on the other hand, with the local circuit 46 47 35 and with the ground by the line 50. At the receiving-station on the right, on the contrary, the switch 44 is placed over the contact-piece 49', so that the electromagnet 32 is connected with the ground by the lines 48 50. Thus a circuit including the two electromagnets 32 and 32 is i'ormed by the line of transmission L, the local circuit and the line 50 at the sending-station, the lines 48 50 at the receiving-station, and the ground. lt is obvious that for maintaining the synchronism of the two clockworks it is necessary that the slit 29 of the operatingdisk O at the receiving-station should register at the same moment with the slit 34 of the screen S as the slit 29 of the operating-disk O at the sending-station registers with the slit 34 of the screen S, or, in other words, at

this moment the armature 30 on the operating-disk O at the receiving-station must occupy the same position beneath the electromagnet 32 in its center line as the armature 30 at the sending-station beneath the electromagnet 32. (See Fig. 4.) The incandescent lamp 41 is put into operation, so that the re- Hector 42 refiects the. rays of light in the direction toward the slit 34 of the screen S, as epXlained above. During the revolution of the operating-disk O the latter normally intercepts these reiiected rays of light and only at the moment when either of its slits 29 29 is in line with that 34 of the screen S willthe rays of light be permitted to pass through and act upon the selenium-cell 35. whereby the electrical resistance of the latter is red uced, and consequently the current furnished by the battery '46 and circulating in the circuit between the two stations is increased. Of course the two electromagnets 32 and 32' at both stations are simultaneously energized at this moment to attract their respective armatures 30 and 30. As long as the synchro'- nism of the two clockworks at both stations is preserved it is evident that the two armatures 30 and 30 will momentarily occupy their central positions beneath the pole-pieces 3l and 31 of their electromagnets 32 and 32 (see Fig. 4) when the latter are energized, so that the armature 30 will not be attracted in either direction at right angles to its center line. Should. however, the operating-disk O at the receiving-station run in advance of the operatingdisk O at the sending-station, the armature 30 would occupy a position in advance of the center line ot' its electromagnet 32 (see Fig. 7) at the moment at which both electromagnets 32 and 32 are energized. The consequence otl this will be that by reason of the attraction of the electromagnet 32 the armature 30 will be drawn backward, as is indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7. so that the clockwork driving the operating-disk O is thereby retarded. Should, on the other hand, the disk O at the receiving-station lag behind that O at the sending-station, its respective armature 30 will occupy a position on the other side of the center line of the electromagnet 32 (see Fig. 6) at the moment when both electromagnets 32 and 32 are energized. The consequence of this will be that the armature 30 will be drawn forward and its clockwork will be accelerated. As the two electromagnets 32 and 32 are energized four times during every revolution of both operating-disks O and O, the operating-disk O at the receiving-station will be each time regulated, whereby the synchronism of the two clockworks is insured. The number of the slits 29 and 29 and ot' the armatures 30 and 30 of the two operating-disks O and O may be reduced down to one or increased, as

may be desired, for insuring the proper degree of the synchronism ot' the two clockworks. In case it is desired to turn the station on the right into a sending-station and the other station on the left into a receivingstation it is of course only necessary to place the switch 44 over the contact-piece 45 and to move the switch 44 olf 4from its position (shown at Fig. 5) to the other contact-piece 49, when the system will operate much in the same manner as described above, only in the reversed sense.

From the above explanations it will be obvious that the two rotatory operating-disks O and O never come into contact with electrical contacts of any construction whatever, so that the defects connected with the known synchronizing systems where electrical contacts are employed are completely avoided.

The synchronizing system may be varied without deviating from the spirit of my invention. It is of course immaterial which of the two local circuits is engaged either at the sending-station or at the receiving-station,

(when taking into consideration the telegram, message, photograph, image, or the like to be transmitted.) Either of the two local circuits may be omitted.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is4

l. ln a synchronizing system, the combination of a revoluble disk located at a transmityting-station and provided upon its periphery with an armature, means for actuating said revoluble disk, an electromagnet disposed ad jacent to the path of said armature, a line connecting said magnet with the ground, a revoluble disk 'disposed at a receiving-station, said last-mentioned disk being provided with a radial slit and also provided with au armature mounted upon its periphery, an electromagnet disposed adjacent to the path of said last-mentioned armature, a screen provided with a slit and disposed adjacent to said lastmentioned disk, a light-controlled cell disposed at a distance from the slit of said lastmentioncd screen, a source ot' light upon the opposite side of said last-mentioned revoluble disk and in alinement with the slit of said lastmentioned screen, a conductor connecting said light-controlled cell with the ground, another conductor connecting' said light-controlled cell with the electromagnct at the receivingslation, a transmission-line connecting together said eleetromagnets at the dili'erent stations, and a battery Vlor energizing said conductors and said line.

2. In a synchronizing system, the combination of separate sources of power located respectively at the transmitting and receiving stations, two revoluble disks driven by said sources of power respectively and each provided with a radial slit and upon its periphery with an armature, two electromagnets located at the respective stations and disposed above the respective paths of said two revoluble disks, a line-wire connecting said electromagnets together, two screens disposed respectively at the transmitting and receiving stations, each screen being arranged upon one side of the revoluble disk at that station and provided with a slit adapted to register with the radial slit of the disk, two light-controlled cells disposed respectively at the two stations behind the slits of said two screens, two sources of light disposed adjacent to the re spective revoluble disks but upon the opposite sides thereof from said light-controlled cells and in alinement with the slits ot' said two screens, two local circuits each disposed at one ot' said stations, said circuits being' connected with the coils ot' said two elcctromagnets and said two light-controlled cells, ltwo conductors respectively connecting said two local circuits with the ground, and two switches for con necting said two electromagnets with the ground through themedium et' said two local circuits.

3. ln a synchronizing system, the combination ot' two separate sources ot power disposed at ditl'erent stations, two revoluble disks lo cated at said stations and driven respectively by said two sources of power, each disk being provided with a plurality ol' radial slits and with a plurality otl armatures mounted upon its liicriphery, two electromagnets disposed above the respective paths ol said armatures, aline connecting together the coils ot said two electromagnets, two screens disposed at the respective stations, each screen being arranged upon one side oi one olf said disks and provided with a slit adapted to register with the radial slits thereof, two light-controlled cells disposed respectively at the two stations and placed behind the slits ol said two screens, two sources ol light mounted respectively upon the opposite sides olE said two disks and in line with the slits of said two screens, two local circuits disposed at the respective sta tions and connected with said two eleetroi'nagnets and said light-controlled cells, two lines connecting said two local circuits with the ground, and two switches `for connecting said two electromagnets with the ground by means otl said two local circuits.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this spccilieation in the presence ol two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL RIBBF, Witnesses:

l/VoLDnMAa HAUPT, HENRY Hasrnn. 

